Poetry and Prayer

Psalm 60 asks us to ponder how a leader like David responds when his army is momentarily defeated. Supplemental Materials : Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 60 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 60 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 60 in Hebrew and English. — "Poetry & Prayer: A Daily Journey Through the Psalms" is generously sponsored by Ivan and Suzana Kaufm...

Psalm 59 takes us into a very precise moment of David's life. Why, then, does he also lend a universal theme to the psalm? Supplemental Materials : Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 59 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 59 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 59 in Hebrew and English . Click here to read I Samuel 19: 11-19. — "Poetry & Prayer: A Daily Journey Thro...

Psalm 58 reminds us that anger has a role in the moral life when channeled properly. Supplemental Materials : Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 58 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 58 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 58 in Hebrew and English . — "Poetry & Prayer: A Daily Journey Through the Psalms" is generously sponsored by Ivan and Suzana Kaufman.

Psalm 57, which takes place in a cave, offers a mirror image of Plato's famous allegory. Supplemental Materials : Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 57 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 57 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 57 in Hebrew and English. — "Poetry & Prayer: A Daily Journey Through the Psalms" is generously sponsored by Ivan and Suzana Kaufman.

Psalm 56 speaks of a dove—a dove that does not desire war, but recognizes that at times it is necessary. Supplemental Materials : Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 56 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 56 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 56 in Hebrew and English. — "Poetry & Prayer: A Daily Journey Through the Psalms" is generously sponsored by Ivan and Suzana...

David's trusted adviser who berated him may be the inspiration for this psalm. Supplemental Materials : Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 55 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 55 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 55 in Hebrew and English. — "Poetry & Prayer: A Daily Journey Through the Psalms" is generously sponsored by Ivan and Suzana Kaufman.

A psalm speaks of David's loneliness, and his inner strength. Supplemental Materials : Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 54 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 54 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 54 in Hebrew and English. — "Poetry & Prayer: A Daily Journey Through the Psalms" is generously sponsored by Ivan and Suzana Kaufman.

Psalm 53 is almost exactly identical to Psalm 14. Why then are its words repeated? Supplemental Materials : Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 53 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 53 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 53 in Hebrew and English. Click here to listen to the "Poetry and Prayer" podcast on Psalm 14. Click here to watch Rabbi Soloveichik's course on G...

A character from The Lord of the Rings reveals the destructive power of wicked speech, mirrored by a biblical figure who used words for evil ends. Supplemental Materials: Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 52 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 52 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 52 in Hebrew and English. — "Poetry & Prayer: A Daily Journey Through the Psalms" i...

An etching by Rembrandt van Rijn captures the essence of Psalm 51. Supplemental Materials : Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 51 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 51 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 51 in Hebrew and English. Click here to view "David in Prayer" by Rembrandt van Rijn. Click here to listen to Rabbi Soloveichik's podcast on kintsugi. — "Poetry &...

Judaism binds gratitude and repentance together, creating a path for a life well lived. Supplemental Materials : Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 50 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 50 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 50 in Hebrew and English. — "Poetry & Prayer: A Daily Journey Through the Psalms" is generously sponsored by Ivan and Suzana Kaufman.

A short story by Tolstoy allows us to better appreciate the message at the heart of the psalm. Supplemental Materials : Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 49 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 49 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 49 in Hebrew and English. — "Poetry & Prayer: A Daily Journey Through the Psalms" is generously sponsored by Ivan and Suzana Kaufman.

William Seward's citation of this psalm speaks to the secret of Jewish endurance. Supplemental Materials : Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 48 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 48 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 48 in Hebrew and English. Click here to read William H. Seward's excerpt on Jerusalem. Click here to read "Marco Rubio in the City of David." — "Po...

The shofar has both a particularistic and universal meaning. Supplemental Materials : Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 47 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 47 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 47 in Hebrew and English. Click here to listen to "The Shofar Postcard and the Shofar Prayer." Click here to read more about the shofar blowing on the island of St. Mar...

One of the greatest miracles in Jewish history may be the subject of this psalm. Supplemental Materials : Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 46 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 46 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 46 in Hebrew and English. Click here to watch "Assyria vs. Israel: The Miracle the Saved Monotheism." Click here to watch "What the War with Iran Re...

Psalm 45 highlights the distinction between the Jewish and pagan perspectives on royalty. Supplemental Materials : Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 45 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 45 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 45 in Hebrew and English. — "Poetry & Prayer: A Daily Journey Through the Psalms" is generously sponsored by Ivan and Suzana Kaufman.

The second half of Psalm 44 cries out to God in the midst of catastrophe but still finds a way to sustain faith. Supplemental Materials : Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 44 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 44 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 44 in Hebrew and English. — "Poetry & Prayer: A Daily Journey Through the Psalms" is generously sponsored by Ivan an...

Psalm 44 describes a period devoid of the miracles of the past—but therein we discover another miracle. Supplemental Materials : Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 44 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 44 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 44 in Hebrew and English. — "Poetry & Prayer: A Daily Journey Through the Psalms" is generously sponsored by Ivan and Suzana...

This exquisite psalm gives us a one-sentence soliloquy. Supplemental Materials : Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 43 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 43 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 43 in Hebrew and English. — "Poetry & Prayer: A Daily Journey Through the Psalms" is generously sponsored by Ivan and Suzana Kaufman. This episode of "Poetry and Prayer" is...

Why do the sons of Korach, an adversary of Moses, merit their own psalm? Supplemental Materials : Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 42 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 42 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 42 in Hebrew and English. — "Poetry & Prayer: A Daily Journey Through the Psalms" is generously sponsored by Ivan and Suzana Kaufman. This episode of "Poetr...

The sages note a comparison between Moses and David, the Torah and Tehillim . Supplemental Materials : Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 41 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 41 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 41 in Hebrew and English. — "Poetry & Prayer: A Daily Journey Through the Psalms" is generously sponsored by Ivan and Suzana Kaufman. This episode of "...

David describes what it means for Scripture to be inscribed on our soul. Supplemental Materials : Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 40 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 40 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 40 in Hebrew and English. — "Poetry & Prayer: A Daily Journey Through the Psalms" is generously sponsored by Ivan and Suzana Kaufman. This episode of "Poetr...

This song may be written for a specific Levite. Supplemental Materials : Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 39 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 39 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 39 in Hebrew and English. — "Poetry & Prayer: A Daily Journey Through the Psalms" is generously sponsored by Ivan and Suzana Kaufman.

A mysterious opening of the psalm seems to describe it as a "reminder." Supplemental Materials : Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 38 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 38 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 38 in Hebrew and English. — "Poetry & Prayer: A Daily Journey Through the Psalms" is generously sponsored by Ivan and Suzana Kaufman. This episode of Poetry...

A much-sung verse can be read in two ways. Supplemental Materials : Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 37 in English. Click here to listen to a recitation of Psalm 37 in Hebrew. Click here to read Psalm 37 in Hebrew and English. — "Poetry & Prayer: A Daily Journey Through the Psalms" is generously sponsored by Ivan and Suzana Kaufman. This episode of Poetry and Prayer is generously spon...